Its often better to be a UDFA than a 6th or 7th round pick were the team has you tied up if they so choose as you point out. People keep thinking that we only drafted McKnight because of the Sanchez connection, but the kid put up decent numbers at a good program without Sanchez. He has some football skill in the very least and is being given an oppertunity due to the exposure of being Mark's friend. The dissapointment some are showing at the direction we went with 5th 6th and 7th round picks is just damn silly. At that point in the draft you have to completely ignore need and get the best football player available (some would argue that you do this at all points of the draft). So we didn't grab that available OLB in the 6th, who the hell cares? If he's available that late there is a reason and any player around that late is likely to make very little impact thier first season outside of special teams.
What should piss everyone off more is that the NFL invited this guy to the draft. He was at the draft for obvious story reasons and he was left high and dry. That really is a slap in the face, so embarrassing.
So... you really thinnk the 20 some odd players that went behind him were that much better?? Who were you hungry for? How much did you watch these monster prospects to make such a cliam and again, are you really belly aching about a pick that was less then 30 from being a UDFA?? Really?? LOL
There's just one point I want to make on the McKnight pick. Even if the Jets did think they could sign McKnight as a UDFA and even though he said that he would be attending Jets West regardless, drafting his rights automatically gives him access to the Jets' playbook via Sanchez. If the Jets had to wait for the FA period start, when/if that happens, that puts McKnight at a major disadvantage since he'd be hurrying and struggling to catch up to the the guys already on the roster. The Jets targeted McKnight based off the recommendations of McKnight as a competitor from Sanchez and his game film from when he was in Colorado. They picked him based on evidence that he could be an asset to the team, not because they felt like bringing Sanchez a friend to hang with at training camp. Implicit in McKnight being a WR is that he was brought here to specifically help Sanchez on the field. If he's going to be an asset that Sanchez can rely on then it only helps to get him familiar with the offense as soon as possible. By drafting him he gets the materials quicker, learns the offense quicker(hopefully) and becomes a better help for Sanchez. All without taking any risk that something gets fucked up with the signing and McKnight goes to another team after having access to the Jets playbook.
I'm not bitching about the pick. But to say they picked McKnight because he was the best player on the board is a fallacy. Personally, I would have chosen one of the safties (preferably Lefeged) instead of McKnight. Many draftniks on this board gave him and McDaniel a 4-5 round grade. I hope McKnight pans out, but the reality of the situation is that this was a Sanchez pick.
I'm sure the Sanchez conection helped. So did leaving Colorado leading the school all time in receptions and TD's. So did the fact that we currently have Cotchery, Turner and nothing else under contract at receiver, while still holding Leonhard, Smith and Lowery under contract all who can play Saftey. Again, your acting as if the kid did nothing but know mark to get drafted and thats not the case. Your acting as if you know a saftey who went undrafted would have been a better pick, despite us having more depth at saftey and know nothing about him except that people on this site liked him. You say McKnight being the best player on the Jets board is a fallecy, because of somethign someone else told you with no real proof. The only fallecy is you spouting off your opinion like its fact.
Please show me where I "spout my opinion like it's fact". I said that there is no way McKnight was the BPA, and that's my opinion. If anything, you are the one who is getting all insulted because people disagree with your premise. And unless you are a professional scout, then you largely go off what other people tell you about a player. You're right, I didn't log countless hours breaking down tape of all 750 or so players in the draft pool.
Thing is, how would any of us amateurs conclude that McKnight was or was not the BPA at that point in the draft? We're talking out of our asses unless, like you wrote above, we watched countless hours of tape of these college players. I understand people here having opinions about Cam Newton and A.J. Green and Andy Dalton and guys like that who played on national TV often, but when this draft forum gets crazy to me is when I see people writing about guys like Chris Gocong as if they watched him game in and game out. Yeah, I know Gocong was a few drafts back. It was nuts. There was more than one guy on this board going cuckoo for Gocong. Based on what? Something Mel Kiper Jr. said? Also, I saw your son walkin' with the queen, doin' the Werewolves of London.
Listen, I'm a Jets fan and I will be rooting for Scotty to make the team and to contribute. And you're absolutely right, I didn't know much about McKnight before he was selected. I watch more college football than the average fan, and that's mainly because I'm a compulsive gambler, and I'm far from an expert. I trust in Tannebaum and that his staff. I still would've perferred Lefeged. I sure good use a cool pina colada at Trader Vic's.
Nice video on Mark, I REALLY hope we end up being the ones who give him a shot. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-every...to-Prove-Herzlich-the-gym-rat?module=HP_video
Thanks for reminding me about this thread. By all accounts, teams should be able to start signing UDFAs by the end of July.
Players will want to play in New York because of Rex Ryan - this gives us a leg up on a lot of teams. The front office will probably bring in some inside and outside backers, some defensive backs, and some offensive linemen. These are the positions that have spots, especially if we lose some guys. I hope we can bring back Hunter and Turner on the offensive line, but that's unlikely...so we'll probably try to find some versatile backups. There's a lot of talent out there - let's just hope the front office finds a couple long-term developmental players that can help down the road.
Well you would be wrong . It simple common sense. An undrafted FA not going to go to the Jets because of Rex Ryan. Not even if he has a foot fetish. The Undrated Fa going to go to a team that he thinks he has a realistic shot at making the roster, and what team gives him more money to sign. So if your an undrafted Fa say Olb that can rush the passer, you probably have the Jets on your list because they really don't have much competition there.
